Search This Blog

Where Art Thou Marilyn Dennis? Wherefore CityLine?

Well, as usual, I'm just about out of the loop as to what's going down in TV land. Marilyn Dennis said on the radio (CHUM FM 104.5) this morning that Friday is her last day. Whaaaa???

It's not that I'm surprised, it's just that I didn't expect it to actually happen, if that makes any sense. Marilyn Dennis made CityLine the popular and well-loved show that it is today. Dini Petty, who started it, was never to my mind the kind of host that can stick around long enough to make a show a must-watch part of one's day, a show like Oprah's for example. Under Marilyn's guidance and in the creative incubator of Citytv, CityLine became the only truly successful Canadian daytime show. Other hosts have come and gone on other shows, other channels have tried to replicate CityLine's success, but none have succeeded.

I bet when the CRTC OK'd the merger of CTV and all those radio stations, it didn't anticipate it would kill off one of the few Canadian television success stories. Do considerations like that even come into their minds when they're considering big corporations' greedy requests? I had wondered if Marilyn could work for two different companies, now that each company had a finger in each other's territorial pie. It's OK to work for two different companies of each company doesn't work in the other's medium, but now we know it doesn't work when both are in both mediums.

There's talk of Marilyn having her own CTV show. But CTV has never done well in the Canadian daytime department. They've had transient success -- especially with Dini Petty -- but unless they break out of that boring CTV look and inability to commit to a Canadian for the long term, they're not going to succeed with Marilyn, no matter how natural a fit she is for daytime shows.

I heard Shapiro had cancer, that might be part of the reason the show disappeared sans trace.

The Verdict with Paula Todd also disappeared off the airwaves just as it was getting into its groove. I don't know if that was Todd's idea to move to W5 or CTV's.

They seem to create programming to meet the CRTC rules, then promptly abandon it, even fantastic primetime dramas. Do they not like being Canadian?! Do they have a thing against their own culture? Weird.

Good question. All those eps are pretty date-sensitive, but still would be good to watch. I'd like to even be able to watch shows on the Net that are still on but where I've missed an ep or two and the network has stopped showing them in reruns. Really sucks when trying to keep up with the storylines.

CTV has been on a firing spree lately (as is their compatitor). They're replacing competent professionals who are passionate about what they're doing with nervous, young people who are going to sit down and shut up and do their jobs for very, very little pay without question. The days of the independently-minded journalist are over and done with at CTV. Consequently, everyone should turn to other sources for their news and information.

It is all over. That City Tv flavour that was the the creative force of Moses Znaimer is all gone. He created it all from JD to Jenne to Citypulse and Muchmusic. He was and is a genius. The purchase of the ChumCity building. CTV & ROGERS don't get it and never will. Marilyn Denis is the latest in the demise. Next Mark Daly will get chopped and replaced by one of those CFTO pretty boys or even worse Ben Mulroney. ugh!!!

This transition period has been rough on CityTV and its viewers. Whoever takes over on CityLine will have a rough time that's for sure. On the other hand, I'm glad to see it's finally airing high-quality Canadian dramas, even as it's lost those shows that defined the station.

I'm hoping its move to its new building (not sure when that will be) will revitalize it.

Where the hell is Marilyn Denis? I'm menopausal, woke up in a slump this morning and now this. I don't care about the reasons, I just want Marilyn back where she belongs. What is Cityline without Marilyn Denis? She IS Cityline. Are there men involved in this decision? I want time alone in a room with them. Don't make me come down to Toronto to straighten this mess out.

Oh, "Here! Here!" to that last comment!!! The departure of Marilyn from Cityline makes me want to cry. It was the perfect daytime show and it won't be the same for me at all. Change is good and all, but why mess with perfection? I look forward to her new show. I'll follow her anywhere she goes.

anonymous, I feel for you! It was a sad, sad day when Marilyn wished us all goodbye (http://pario.blogspot.com/2008/05/marilyn-says-goodbye-to-cityline.html). LOL@men involved. Yup, I do believe it was men who made the decision to buy out and the decision to can her as she couldn't work for two broadcast companies at once (and why not, I ask? oh yeah, that territory thing).

neko, I agree! I may not always have watched it, but just knowing it was there when and if I wanted to gave a certain comfort factor in a world full of change.

I will truly miss Miss Marilyn. I loved her. I'm from a suburb of Detroit, MI and stubbled on her and CityLine about a year ago, so I'm a newbee to the show. I watch several times a week and always on Thursdays.

I have taped and watched Cityline for years. It is not the same without Marilyn Dennis. Yes change happens in the name of progress, but "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Marilyn Dennis was the reason Cityline was the award winning show that it was. "Conflict of interest" is something that someone wih Marilyn's integrety could have risen above. CityTV has just shot theirselves in the foot as far as I am concerned!

anon in Detroit, I was thinking the Marilyn shows would be in reruns for the summer, so at least you could enjoy her for a little while longer. But just discovered Citytv is already running new shows with subs. Hopefully, Marilyn will be back on the tube come the Fall. But CTV is notorious for not sticking with their shows. They even bounced around the schedule their award-winning and very long-running W5 and have now stuck it in a dead time slot. Here's hoping Marilyn will prove the exception.

I agree with many of the comments, I am not a big TV watcher but it truely is a fact if u watch even a little TV that Marilyn is city line, I am happy she hasnt left chum because I listen every day on my way to work, and woud be lost without her there, I tried to tune in and see how it was different but the othe hosts can not compare, what a loss for canadain TV.

When I wrote my posts on Marilyn, I had no idea the response I'd get. It's been really amazing -- it shows how popular she is, and how much a part of so many people's days she was, even in the US.

Anon, I agree. But they are cycling through some pretty funny hosts. The best was Kathryn Humphries, sports journalist on CityNews. They did do Marilyn repeats during the holiday week, so they may do it again for the August holiday.

Who would have thought such a successful daytime tv show would have cut its own throat? I have watched Cityline since Dini Petty started and Marilyn was the perfect fun loving host we could all relate to. I do wish her great success in her future and know that Cityline will be missed.

I had wondered where Marilyn had gone---now I know. I loved watching Cityline and totally enjoyed Marilyn's natural way of hosting the show. I am quite sure men were envolved in this decision--they see that something works and people are happy and they must at all cost change that!! Cityline will not be the same and I hope to see Marilyn in the future--love her.

I am really disappointed about Marilyn not being on CityLine. I have been waiting and waiting for her to come back and stumbled on this website to find she is never coming back. I don't think I want to watch the show anymore with the corporate mindset of the station. In Vancouver we also lost our two hosts for the Breakfast show from 6 am to 10 am suddenly a couple of weeks ago. Now we don't watch it anymore. What stupid decisions the powers that be do make.

I just spent over $700 to get Cityline in the US. Our old connection died last fall. I got the new dish completely because of Marilyn Dennis. What a disappointment!! You wouldn't believe the effort it took to get hooked up. Today, I finally got to see a show, ish!!!

Wow, that's a real bummer spending over $700 and then discovering the reason for it is gone! But maybe you can salvage it as she's supposed to have a new show on CTV. I haven't heard any details yet, but will blog when I do.

I really find it odd that CityLine wouldn't have had Dennis going to the end of summer and then having a new host to start the new season in September. They would've had a better chance of hanging onto viewers that way, assuming they don't want to can CityLine. Seems a very half-assed, trying-to-get-it-to-go-under way of continuing the show. Either that or stupidity born out of corporate territoriality.

Wow, I am totally out of the loop. Just found out today that Marilyn Dennis is no longer with City Line. I was watching today's show and the host mentioned it. I thought that these hosts were just filling in for the Summer or something. I loved Marilyn Dennis on the show and am very sad to hear this news.

I was so shocked to see today that Marilyn Dennis was let go from Cityline. She made that show what it is today and she will be truly missed. I can think of a couple of other people that should be let go but definitely not Marilyn She was the best, I will not watch the show again without her.

anon: The problem for Marilyn was that Rogers owns Citytv and CityLine, but her radio station is owned by CTV. So she had to choose between working for CTV or for Rogers, either her morning radio show on CHUM FM (CTV) or her television show (Rogers). She chose to stick with her radio show because that's where she'd started, and I think radio is her first love.

That's why CTV offered her a television show, as a replacement for CityLine. I think they understood her appeal, but they're really bad at sticking with good people and good shows. So we'll see how it turns out.

CBC is finally coming up with good shows again. I rather like Steven and Chris, and they probably have a better chance now of getting lots of eyeballs after the CityLine/Marilyn debacle.

I too, was watching all these guest hosts on Cityline assuming that Marilyn was on a well-deserved holiday at her cottage....I was shocked to hear today's guest host mention that Cityline was searching for a new host.CTV best be getting busy with plans for a new "Marilyn" show fast.I also suggest that Cityline fans tune in to CBC's new "Steven & Chris" show. It is a good one!

I can't believe Marilyn is gone. I just googled 'bring marilyn dennis back to cityline' and got this blog. It really is a pity, I have watched the show since Dini and my middle school days...it will not be the same at all. The other posters are right, CityTV lost out here. CTV better 'bring it on'!

This may be a little late to post since Marilyn's departure in July, but I feel so strongly compelled to express my sincere regret and confusion about her leaving Cityline. I don't see the problem with working at both CHUM and Rogers, if that was in fact the issue. Marilyn is an amazing host and the show just won't be the same. She was just the right blend of humour, respect, and fun. Every time I have visited Toronto, I have wanted to be an audience participant and to see Marilyn and her show in action. Now I have absolutely no interest. I also can't seem to get into any of the new hosts.

No, not late at all! I got to be in the CityLine audience once, and Marilyn is as fun to watch in person as on TV. She is still working on starting a new television show on CTV and is looking forward to it. I haven't heard anything about a timeline yet.

Meanwhile, CityLine will be starting its new season this Monday, September 15, with their new permanent host I would assume. They're talking about taking it on the road to visit audiences in other Citytv cities; and with the move to Citytv's new building at Yonge-Dundas Square, they'll have a new studio too next year. I don't know if I'll be a convert to the new CityLine or not, but I'm going to try to catch it at 9 am Monday.

I too, will no longer watch Cityline. Conflict of interest.... give me a break! Marilyn... thank you for the years of pleasure. Good luck, and hopefully you and CTV will bring forth a show that will challange those that dared to test tried and true fans. The only reason I watched Cityline, was the very funny, quirky, personal hostess, whose connection with all was truely wonderful to watch!!

NOOOOOOOOOO!I assumed marilyn was just on summer holiday! how naive! i was in complete denial...i hope by some miracle she comes back?! i've been wanting to take my mom to see her on cityline but now that will never happen. I want to cry..she was the ONLY talk show host worth being on air

Just found out on this website that Marilyn was no longer hosting City Line. I was wondering if perhaps she was ill--at least that's not the case. The show will never be the same without her, so there's no point watching.

ME TOO! I just thought Marilyn was on vacation, but when I kept seeing Jennifer hosting I knew something was up, so I did a search and found you all! Yup, change is inevitable, but sad and hard to swallow.

Wow. I'm truly disappointed! I too thought Marilyn Dennis was on a long vacation. I keep tuning in to see if she's returned. I finally decided to google the topic to see when she'd be back. This is a sad day for CityTV to lose such a great host.

cityline is doomed.marilyn made the show.if someone offers her a new gig,i hope she goes.the new hosts,are just plain boring.it,s not fair to her regulars,in fashion.cooking,home decorating.i will watch for a new show.i will never watch cityline again,minus marylynn davies.

I too was in denial, thinking perhaps Marilyn was to return any day now. Until I came upon this site, now I'm in the loop. I've caught several episodes with the guesthost and it's just not the same anymore!! Good luck to you Marilyn!!

I have tried to watch CityLinew without Marilyn and it just doesn't work. She made that show great. It was one of the few Canadian content shows that was interesting and fresh .. thanks to a wonderful congenial host like Marilyn. I can only hope she'll be back on television where she belongs. Oh Marilyn I miss you terribly!

REally sad she left. However I see a pattern here. Tracy is young and black. Every newcomer is just. Young and Ethnic. The Owners/Producers are trying to hire every fu##@%^*g!! background culture that ever was.!!!! Trying hard to be popular and not sued is more like it!!! The former hosts were what made thar show what it is!! f. them.

Okay, just watched the first five minutes and already found the new host a bit fake. I haven't watched Cityline faithfully in years,just sporadically, but my first home and cottage were decorated/sponged/ragged (OMG) with all the tips from Marilyn's guests. I taped years of it. She was so down to earth and genuine. Traits that are very hard to fake on TV. I too thought she was just gone for the summer. What a shame that they dumped her. We will miss you Marilyn -- one of your faithful, fortyish fans.

I'm not watching City line without Marilyn there! Like many I thought she was sick, so I clicked off. I miss the authenticity that is Marilyn. Sadly the show is limp now. Her interaction with the others was genuine! Sadly she is one of a few woman now missing from television. You'd think the producers would take a hint from "The View" that there is a demand for middle aged women who we can relate to!Damn them! Simi Sara is gone too! RRR...I am turned off that station!

Like everyone else I kept looking for Marilyn to return. What a loss! She was the reason I watched the show. She headed a team that appealed to all ages and tastes, as she had younger guests who represented different demographics and still held the interest of middle aged and older women. This show just doesn't work for me anymore. It was painful to watch the stumbling fumbling tryouts. She was exceptional. I don't think I'll be watching anymore.

I have also been wondering what happened to Marilyn on City Line ?I thought that she might be on extended leave or maybe off due to illness I missed her last show soI didn't know what happened The show is just not the same without her I kept expecting to see her come back With the new hosts they seem to be appealing to a younger audience but that audience is NOT at Home in the daytime to watch Bring Marilyn back please

As a previous poster alluded to - CTV is not in the business of producing great tv, they are corporate distributers of American pulp. It is bad enough that they now maintain a monopoly even in sports - Vancouver Olympic bid, the hockey anthem, curling, etc. etc. The CRTC allows the big BellGlobeCTV conglomerate to do this with nary a whimper, it abdicated its duty ages ago. Meanwhile, CTV and its ilk is allowed to bombard Canadian viewers with American programming--NFL regular games over the Grey Cup? (Oh, did I mention they've also managed to reduce a national institution to cable tv. Well, I'm sure the American dollars must feel good at night.) Thank you CRTC and thank you American, I mean, private broadcast bullies of Canada. Go back to reading books,folks.

As a previous poster alluded to - CTV is not in the business of producing great tv, they are corporate distributers of American pulp. It is bad enough that they now maintain a monopoly even in sports - Vancouver Olympic bid, the hockey anthem, curling, etc. etc. The CRTC allows the big BellGlobeCTV conglomerate to do this with nary a whimper, it abdicated its duty ages ago. Meanwhile, CTV and its ilk is allowed to bombard Canadian viewers with American programming--NFL regular games over the Grey Cup? (Oh, did I mention they've also managed to reduce a national institution to cable tv. Well, I'm sure the American dollars must feel good at night.) Thank you CRTC and thank you American, I mean, private broadcast bullies of Canada. Go back to reading books,folks.

Well put Anon! I'm still miffed I missed the Grey Cup, and I don't know why CTV preferred to broadcast the pap it did over the game. I'm even more puzzled as to why the CFL gave the green light to making it available only to paying cable customers.

Shireen, a lot of Canadians think the new commissioner Cohon should be fired for such a blunder.

His claim to fame was that his daddy was the head of McDonalds Canada (he's Ronald McDonald Jr, I guess) - what a surprise, an American Empire.

Word was that he wanted the money (short-term vision) and to "thank" TSN for their past coverage. Nobody knows why EXCLUSIVITY had to be included? TSN can't even deliver the same audience as the Free Networks can. Meanwhile, that huge monopoly called Bell-Globe-CTV just keeps buying up everything in sight, with out ANY interest in producing real CANADIAN content. For them, it's all about the almighty buck. I don't think it's wrong, but it's criminal to think that we are allowing them to do so, simply by "re-playing" American content. If we really wanted a Canadian tv station to do that, I wouldn't need CTV, we'd just watch ABC, NBC, CBS. I know so many people who refuse to support the CFL anymore, and I'm sadly one of them.

On a different note: That Tracy [Look At ME, I have an Attitude but don't have good reason] Moore is TERRIBLE. How do the producers at CityTV expect viewers to warm up to someone like that??? What were the Producers thinking. I think Cityline will be history in a few months, if not weeks. I can't stand the host interrupting the Guests all the time and her harsh voice. Marilyn was awesome that way.

Shireen, a lot of Canadians think the new commissioner Cohon should be fired for such a blunder.

His claim to fame was that his daddy was the head of McDonalds Canada (he's Ronald McDonald Jr, I guess) - what a surprise, an American Empire.

Word was that he wanted the money (short-term vision) and to "thank" TSN for their past coverage. Nobody knows why EXCLUSIVITY had to be included? TSN can't even deliver the same audience as the Free Networks can. Meanwhile, that huge monopoly called Bell-Globe-CTV just keeps buying up everything in sight, with out ANY interest in producing real CANADIAN content. For them, it's all about the almighty buck. I don't think it's wrong, but it's criminal to think that we are allowing them to do so, simply by "re-playing" American content. If we really wanted a Canadian tv station to do that, I wouldn't need CTV, we'd just watch ABC, NBC, CBS. I know so many people who refuse to support the CFL anymore, and I'm sadly one of them.

On a different note: That Tracy [Look At ME, I have an Attitude but don't have good reason] Moore is TERRIBLE. How do the producers at CityTV expect viewers to warm up to someone like that??? What were the Producers thinking. I think Cityline will be history in a few months, if not weeks. I can't stand the host interrupting the Guests all the time and her harsh voice. Marilyn was awesome that way.

The young chef from Bayfield who recently appeared on Cityline was paid a terrible disservice by host Tracy. She referred to him as looking 12 years of age. Does she have any idea how difficult it is to gain acceptance in the restaurant business, particularly in a tourist area? We need Marilyn Denis back pronto. The show is dying a horrible death. It used to be my treat to watch the show while working out at the gym. Why bother now?a London Marilyn

I agree with some of your comments - Tracy blows. Please bring back Marilyn, or at the very least someone that doesn't slam everything that comes on stage!! She has such an awful attitude about everything its a wonder people would still want their work featured on the show!!

I finally had a chance to search: where is Marilyn Dennis... as every time I have had the occasion to watch Cityline, I am disappointed in the show. I feel sorry for the replacement hostesses as they have awfully big boots to fill, but I am even more sorry for the viewing public who have lost what once was a great show. Marilyn Dennis was Cityline!

Marilyn if your reading this, I really really miss you, (BC)I thought you were on vacation, then I heard you were having knee surgery, then I waited for a new show with You. I feel like I lost a good friend. I hope You are enjoying what your doing.

I cannot believe that CityLine is surviving with this new Host. I never missed it with marilyn. Now I only watch it when I am at the GYM and I agree that Tracy constantly interrups her guests and always talks about her size 4. Marilyn seemed real. I could realte to her

I have been a faithful fan of Marilyn on Cityline for years and years, she was the person that made me love the Cityline show so much. I try watch the new host on Cityline but after hearing her use the work Funky at least three times, I get irritated and turn the channel. Funky means a bad smell, not a beautiful necklace, scarf or earrings. What a mistake that these corporations made. I just pray that CTV brings Maryilyn back to us on a daily show and soon. I miss her so much, The Holiday season wasn't the same without her, nor was Valentines or now Mothers' Day. Please bring her back I will watch her everyday. She has talent and she can reach out and keep an audience, she doesn't have a big ego, interupt her guests and take over conversations that only relate to her, and if she ever did she would ask the audience to bear with her until her point was made. What a loss. I don't care how many give outs or contest they offer on Cityline anymore without Marilyn, I just plain turn the channel. And let me tell you, I pretty average so I feel I am speaking for alot of Marilyns' fans. I don't live in Toronto so i can't even enjoy her humour on the radio. CTV please listen and bring her back. Respectfully and without prejudice.

I Miss Marilyn!!! I've been watching Cityline for the past 4 years or so- my "mommy time" in the morning when my kids are busy with their homeschool work! She was an expert hostess, made the audience (in studio and at home) feel very welcomed and valued and she made her guests feel at home! Tracy Moore... I'm at a loss for words- I've suffered through the last 8 months or so with her! My daily habit has been reduced to only watching Thursdays Home days and sometimes on Fashion Fridays. I watch those two days for the expert advice from the "Marilyn Dennis" day regulars! Tracy is stuck up, constantly interrupts, laughs in a wierd way at inappropriate times and does NOT make me feel welcome into her "home" like Marilyn did! How much longer is Cityline going to torture us? It WAS a really great show!

I miss Marilyn too and find the new host a little OTT (over the top)! She's trying a littletoo hard in my opinion and as a result I doubt seriously that she even hears a single word her guests utter - just watch and see... That said, it could have been worse, can you imagine Dina Pugliese or Jennifer Valetine hosting - hurl! Marilyn was supposed to be getting her own show on CTV, but they've just announced the Fall line-up and she was nowhere to be seen! Could this be the end of Marilyn Dennis?

To Anonymous 10:11 PM, October 18, 2008 I think your comment is indicative of someone who has very racist tendancies. If you don't know, Toronto is a very diverse city so comments such as yours are truly sad. The point of this blog was supposed to be people expressing that they miss Mariyln Dennis, not I hate ethnics! Shame on you for being so ignorant in 2009!

please bring back marilyn to cityline. the entire mood of the show is different - which is sometimes a good thing - just not in this case. marilyn has a certain way about her. even without comparing the two hosts i find the whole feel of the show is lacking - i am not drawn in to what is happening and often skip through most of the episodes. if at all possible, i believe it would be in the best interest of the show to BRING BACK MARILYN!!!

Pam said the show will never be the same marilyn was so warm , funny interesting the kind of person that makes a show fly . Good luck where ever you are there is a group of women we are all friends about of us we miss you so much . shame on your station for someof the things that people love you change things and disapoint so many fans aug 24th 2009

After watching Tracy Moore for a few shows last year I vowed not to watch again. Well I relented and gave it another try this week. NEVER AGAIN. Tracy is cold, always thinking about how she looks, and makes such stupid comments besides interupting her guests. Time to sack her or City Line will end up with no viewers. Just my opinion.

Please bring Marilyn back !!!!I have watched Marilyn right from the beginning, and always looked forward to the shows and taped them while at work. Marilyn and her shows were the topic of many discussions amongst my friends. Sadly, I never did make to one of her tapings.She was great!I have occasionaly watched tracy, but just can't get used to her. I feel really bad for the guests ( mostly from Marilyn's time )They really don't deserve to be on a sinking ship!!What is Marilyn up to now -besides CHUM- FM ??????

I truly miss Marilyn. She was the reason I happened apon the show. Sadly I hardly watch it anymore. I really like Lynn Spence and the other guests but am very disappointed in the new host. Where are you Marilyn?

I've been watching Cityline since the Dini Petty days. I remember that it took a few weeks to get used to Marilyn, but then I grew to love her in her role. She was a natural, and just self-deprecating enough to be approachable. Tracy Moore comes across as self-conscious and ego-centric. Her dialogue does not flow- she does indeed constantly cut off her guests as they are answering her questions! They need someone new, and fast!

I was watching the new show a few weeks ago and it was Fashion Day and the model had on a pair of shoes Tracy really liked...she has maded it well known she loves shoes...so she says ladies I guarantee if you wear these shoes to the office you will be sure to get a promotion or raise...well the guest turns to her and says something to her like she did not know that what you wear gets you a promotion...well I thought Tracy would die...she knew she royally said the wrong thing...but she seems to keep doing this and still has the job...I think she was much better at the news cause she was told what to say...I too think Marilyn was a much better host...but I feel sure she will be back for us all to enjoy in the future....I just hope it's sooner than later I miss her

I was soo disappointed when I realized Marilyn was gone and that Tracey was suppose to be the relplacement host. What are the Producers thinking??? This is not the right fit. Tracy is not suited for hosting, more for news or maybe weather. Very sad, I've loved City for a long time and will be hard pressed to find something to tune into in the mornings. Very sad in barrie, on.

w hat a great blog here...i totally agree with all the bloggers, i hope marilyn denis reads this along with Tracey moore. for everybodys info please read the Forums on the cityline website, so many people have been complaining about Tracey but nobody at cityline will listen to us. probably tracys contract is going to last till october 2010, if so, the show will probably die by then, cant stand to watch it anymore. maybe we should all get together and email marilyn at chum for her to come back to cityline, please!!!!!!!!!!!i have even noticed that a lot of the guests that marilyn used to have dont come back to the show as often and even some of them not at allPLEASE COME BACK MARILYN, WE NEED YOU AS WOMEN, THANKS

If CTV hadn't done its usual anti-Canadian programming thing of sacrificing Canadian programs for American crap, Marilyn Dennis would've been on the air for a year already, and CTV would've had a slam-dunk hit.

i am so peeved right now, someone at cityline has now removed the forums site. cant believe it, now nobody can voice their opinion anymore, i am sure the show will go down the tube now with tracy as host. was doing some researching and the reason the show today was a repeat was because it is traceys 35 birthday today and she did a blog today...what a coincidence...the same day that the forums section has been deleted...i am sure that tracey had something to do with it, am sure she was not very happy about reading all the negative comments about herself. oh well, guess our opinions dont matter anymore, will not be watching cityline anymore, how ludicrous, or maybe it was suzanne ellis who always sided with tracey. i give up, no more cityline for me thanks

Wow. I finally got fed up with watching Tracy blunder her way through yet another show and left some searing criticism (minus swear words, obscenity etc.) after having spent a few more months watching the show from a Marilyn-free perspective and even focusing on Tracy's positive aspects. Then I found that I got banned from the forum and now this. Nice. Is Cityline now following the cue of the Iranian, Chinese and North Korean gov't and censoring any opinion that displeases them? What, are they now resorting to covering their ears and singing out loud? Or did one of our comments make someone over at Cityline cry? One of my biggest peeves are grown adults who cannot take constructive criticism!

Shireen: People are leaving all of these negative comments because they actually give a crap about this show. So yes, it would be loyalty. How many shows like this with Canadian content do you see out there? The people who are complaining right now are mostlikely the people who gave Tracy a fair chance to improve over the past year. The people who felt anger over losing Marilyn and perhaps, like you are suggesting, had a personal vendetta against Tracy are, in all probability, long gone.

Any empoyee/company out there with a brain (and a maturity level beyond a thirteen yr old) would actually appreciate getting honest feedback and a fair chance to redeem themselves, as opposed togetting the axe out of nowhere all because of some warped sense of politeness and tact. Apparently Cityline isn't one of those organizations.

sorry shireen, but thanks to erica, she understood what i was trying to say, how everybody feels now.

i remember you from the cityline forums website, i think you are erica spinky, right? it is so upsetting that we can no longer voice our opinion about the show. there are a lot of people upset over the show. i guess it is hard to understand how we feel if you have never watched cityline in the past...we are not prejudiced against anyone but just feel that they need a proper host who is not rude and obnoxious to people and a person who does not think that she is all that and better than anyone else, basically full of herself.

sorry for going on and on, but we just want a BETTER host for cityline, thats all we are asking, thanks for listening.

we dont know of any other way to voice our opinion, shireen, if you have any ideas let us know, otherwise we feel the show will come to an end and it has been on the air for soooo many years, thanks

Anon, I used to watch CityLine with Marilyn a lot, and it seemed to me they were having trouble finding a new host to replace her. After Tracy began, I didn't see it much but with the comments I was reading here, I decided to make an effort to watch. I've done so every now and then and thought she was getting better. I'd say it takes a year for a new host to find their legs on daytime TV, and it must be very hard following an extremely popular one, especially if the new host doesn't have the same kind of sense of humour. For me, that was the real difference.

I haven't seen CityLine for a couple of months now so can't comment on specifics, other than it's obvious to me that people really, really miss Marilyn.

Like all of you, I'd watch Marilyn in a heartbeat, but CTV doesn't want to give us that opportunity. The only solution really is to inundate CTV brass with letters telling them to stop spending money on local TV ads and actually make local TV by putting Marilyn back on the air. Of course, even if viewers could persuade CTV to fulfill their commitment to Marilyn, CTV will probably can the program in 3 years since they have an aversion to keeping any Canadian show on too long, like oh 6 or 7 years. Marilyn could never have the longevity on CTV that she had on Citytv.

As for CityLine, I'm amazed that my blog is the only place you can voice your feelings over it. I don't know any other ways for you to voice your opinions, and it's not the best way I know, my blog not being a public forum, but feel free to voice your comments or discuss here. All comments are moderated due to spam, and I do try to publish them in a reasonable time. Also since this is my blog, not a public forum, I do get to choose not to publish any comments that I find offensive. Otherwise, discuss!

@Anonymous: Yes, I commented under the username ericaspinky on the now defunct Cityline forum.

Cityline's attitude and lack of professionalism ("You don't like our show? Well then we'll pretend you don't exist!") have turned me off of the show completely. I didn't expect Cityline/Rogers media to drop everything and get Marilyn back and I didn't expect Tracy to try to become another "Marilyn"; all I and most of the viewers speaking up on the forum expected was some change from Tracy and failing that, a change to a more capable and perhaps more importantly, a more likeable host.

After getting what amounts to a slap in the face from Cityline, it actually makes me mad when I try to watch the show now.

To those who still care about the show, here are other blogs where you can voice your opinion:

Almost a year and a half later and Tracy Moore is not getting any better. She blathers incessantly, cuts guests off repeatedly and cackles at all her own inappropriate remarks. The show has such a fantastic lineup of experts and so much information that I continue to watch. Unfortunately, I find myself yelling at TV Tracy to "Shut Up". The experts do their best to get past her demeanor but they often look embarassed or annoyed. I don't miss Marilyn and don't want her back. I just want a host who isn't such an idiot.

BTW, I too have an MA from the UWO School of Journalism. Tracy is not a credit to the institution.

Oh,my gosh you are so right!Tracy Moore is so annoying.I thought I had it figured out--how to watch my beloved Cityline and not want to throw my coffee at the screen!First I 'fast-forward'her speaking-didn't work.Then I 'mute' her speaking-didn't work.It seemsthe guests are learning 'coping skills'Did you see Lisa Rogers? She talked right over Tracy--she had no choice!Hope the rst of them do the same thing or I'm afraid I won't be watching much longer either.They should have hired Jennifer Valentine she was head and shoulders above Tracy!

I saw Lisa Rogers protect her territory today. Good on her. The guest experts have no choice. Tracy just won't shut up.

I preferred Jennifer Valentine as well. Why management persists in supporting a decision that is so clearly a tragic error is a mystery. I keep wondering if they are waiting for Tracy to go on a maternity leave so they can transition without embarrasement.

seeeeeetttt...the best news i have heard all day. i thought she might be pregnant, noticed all the baggy clothes like she was trying to hide something.

literally, the show has been screwed up for a while, lol, you know what i mean. now it is actual reality and yay she is pregnant.

hope they do a much better job at finding the right host, as most of you all know she was not the right one. no one can stand her constant natter over the guests talking plus her stupid needless comments and you just get sick and tired of listening to her rudeness.no tracy will never get the hint because she is sooooo into herself like ya like ya i know everything and i know even more than my guests know, thats the whole trouble with her

looks like thats what the producers were waiting for since they probably knew they made the wrong decision in hiring her but didnt want to fire her.

yessssssssss, good riddens, on with a new and improved cityline, maybe all the viewers that have stopped watching will now come back...

So glad to see I'm not the only one annoyed by the current host. Really wish I'd seen the shows with Lisa Rogers and Sandra Pittana ignoring her incredible rudeness but alas! I cringe at the idea of having to sit through more of Tracy.

I can't take it any longer!!! Will someone at CITY please tell Tracey to shut up! I am a reasonable person, and I will give anyone a chance, but I truly feel like throwing something at the TV. There are so many great guests on the show, who are not being given the opportunity to even finish a sentence! CITY - you will eventually lose a lot of viewers out of pure annoyance unless you extend Tracey's mat leave permanently!

I have tried for a year to watch Cityline but with Tracey hosting I can only tolerate her for about 15 minutes before I'm forced to change channels. Tracey needs to shut her big yap and let her guests speak. She has this arrogant, self-entitlement air about her that is so unflattering. She needs to go. Wake up, City! Get Tracey off CityLine - she's brutal.

I would like to encourage everyone to email Cityline at info@cityline.ca to comment on the host and suggest that they replace her ASAP. I can't stand it anymore. We gave her over a year to improve and she just gets worse. She is loud, obnoxious, dim and arrogant. Her pregnancy is a perfect opportunity to shop for new talent. Considering she has no talent replacing her should be a breeze. They must know she is hopeless. All we need to do is let them know as a group that we are unhappy. Power to the viewers!

Cityline is so much better without Tracy since she is on maternity leave.PLEASE DO NOT COME BACK...CITYLINE IS FAR BETTER WITHOUT YOUAll the hosts are more polite, considerate and do not interrupt people and think that they are better or more knowledgable than the guests.DO NOT COME BACK TO CITYLINE TRACY MOORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miss Marilyn too!Not only think Tracey talks too much,found her very rude to the guests when she first took over the show,cut people off in mid conversation when we were interested in what their saying and end up missing the info we wanted to hear! Used to watch everyday,and now have only saw the show half dozen times,since she started.Marily was warm,funny,interesting,friendly,you got the impression her guests truely liked her and her them!

GOOD NEWS MY FRIENDS....MARILYN DENIS IS BACCCKKKKKKKK.....YESSSS...GOODBYE TO TRACY FROM CITYLINE, ALL VIEWERS SHOULD WATCH MARILYN DENIS NEW SHOW ON CTV STARTING IN JANUARY 2011...AM SO HAPPY, THE END OF CITYLINE IS NEAR, WHO WOULD WANT TO WATCH TRACY MOORE WHEN MARILYN DENIS IS COMING BACK...HELLO MARILYN AND THE PROPER WAY OF WOMEN TELEVISION IS BACK, GOODBYE TRACEY FOREVER, THE WORST MISTAKE CITY TV EVER MADECHECK OUT MARILYN NEW WEBSITE ON CTV ABOUT HER NEW SHOW,,,,,HOOOOORRRRRAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just came back to Canada after living out of the country for several years. Was very surprised to see charming, clever, salt-of-the-earth Marilyn with somebody who has the interviewing instincts and class of a Guantanamo warden.

Glad to learn Marilyn's got a comeback on the books.

Side note: what HAPPENED to Steven S? I caught his show, and Chris the former sidekick has turned into a tyrant. Occasionally, Chris - whose braying queenery is no longer cute, or not at his age - will let the more talented Steven out of his cage to tinsel a picture frame. Someone set that man free!

Tracey Moore has not bettered herself through experience on CITYLINE., She is more confident and has slowed down a bit but her annoying and often inconsiderate habits persist: cutting off very compertent and accomplished guests, giving away information that a quest was saving for his/her presentation, saying "good stuff" and other sayings ad nauseum.

I read her CV somewhere and on paper at least she is highly educated through Canadian Universities (in Political Science and Journalism). That tells me that she is "dumbing down" herself; certainly she can't be as inept in most things as she presents herself on CITYLINE.

I wish to post these comments to CITYLINE producers but can't find a place for that!

GOOD luck trying to find a place to post to Cityline...they used to have a forum and that was quickly eliminated. many people have tried talking or communicating to Cityline producers but obviously they have never listened to viewers and never cared about anything that people had to say. Bottom line is that Tracey Moore still sucks at being the host and lets all hope that this show goes down under and fails... all the best of luck to Marilyn Denis and her show will totally outlive Citylines show by leaps and bounds...GOOD LUCK AND ALL THE BEST TO MARILYN DENIS AND LONG LIVE YOUR FANTASTIC NEW SHOW!!!!!!!!

I just want to say that when Marilyn Denis left Cityline, i was sad to see her go.What i did not realize was just how much i had missed her! When i watched her new show, wow! That was when i thought ' i am so glad she is back'!I had missed her without even knowing it!Marilyn it is so GREAT to have you back, you are one in a million and you just make me smile. You are the one who expresses so much of we think AND you're fast, always on the ball!I know i am not alone many family memebers and friends have expressed exactly what i just stated.Good luck and SO glad you're back.Carole

Well I don't enjoy the new Marilyn Denis show. It hasn't found its groove yet. It leaps from thing to thing in the most superficial way. It needs to decide what it is. Until that happens the show is going to have a hard time competing against the huge array of daytime talkshows.

P.S. To the person complaining about Steven and Chris, I think they are fantastic. After a few seasons, their show has figured out what it is. It has some depth. Chris may be a flaming queen but his flames are hot and his outrageous antics genuine.

I think the MD shows needs to find its groove, but that takes a bit of time so need to give it a chance. Having said that I enjoy watching it, but I miss some of her guest hosts from City Line such as Liz Spence and Gluckstien. Marilyn is great, a truly talented host. I cannot watch CL with that horrible Tracey Moore. It is still a great format, so it is unfortunate.

Popular Posts

For years I've thought that Canada Post parcel delivery service does not in fact deliver parcels -- they deliver parcel delivery notices, those notices stating that one's parcel is at the post office waiting for pick-up as there was no answer when delivery attempt was made.

When I got one of these notices, I'd look at the date on it, think about where I was, then suddenly realise I was at home all that day. I'd puzzle over how I missed that distinctive courier/letter carrier/police knock on the door. It happened over and over until I decided that Canada Post doesn't actually deliver parcels that need signatures, only the notices. My take on their thinking was that no-one is at home, so why bother. Today I have proof I'm right.

I got one of those bloody delivery notices, called Canada Post, got the "we only do one delivery; I'll have the supervisor call you" spiel. When? In 24-48 hours. Wow. Love the expedit…

A controlled substance is "any type of drug that the federal government has categorized as having a higher-than-average potential for abuse or addiction. Such drugs are divided into categories based on their potential for abuse or addiction. Controlled substances range from illegal street drugs to prescription medications."

Carnitine is a nitrogen amide or quaternary ammonium compound synthesized by the human body from amino acids or ingested primarily through meat eating. Vegetarians, needless to say, consume very little carnitine, and vegans none.

Carnitine is essential for transporting fatty acids into mitochondria where the fatty acids are used as fuel to create energy. Those born without the enzyme that allows carnitine to work its magic have to consume carbohydrates, only carbohydrates, as their energy source and if they go too long without eating carbohydrates they will become weak. There is also some work that shows dogs who do not get L-carnitine in their diet may de…

So all I wanted to do was have my daily massage session in my Human Touch massage chair. Well, it decided to go on strike, after all the Toronto city workers were, so why not it! The remote started beeping -- continuously. Once it started beeping, the chair stopped working. Nothing I did worked, whether turning it off and back on again, waiting so many seconds before turning it back on, unplugging and plugging it back in. And so I called Human Touch, an American company and the manufacturer of this amazing piece of technology that saved my sanity from whole back and stomach pain, neck stiffness, foot pain, and sore legs. They suggested there was a short in the remote. I'd only replaced the remote last summer, and the cord was in good condition, but whatever. Better a problem in the remote than in the back rest where the massage mechanism is, right? Like I could determine fate.

And it's over. As the little gremlin on Just for Laughs wails, "Waaaaaaaaahhhhh...."

Today was Marilyn Dennis' last day as host of CityLine. She told the story on CHUM FM this morning that the day the CRTC announced that CTV could have everything it wanted, except for the Citytv stations, she was hosting Home Day (Thursday mornings). She was called upstairs, and they told her the news and that she was with CTV and they were sure she'd be happy with them. It took awhile to click in that it was over -- her 19-year run as host of CityLine was ending.

Because relations between the two corporate giants -- CTV and Rogers -- was amicable during these mergers and takeovers, they made it possible for her to continue to host for another year. She cannot say yet what she will be doing with CTV, but something is brewing. Citytv meanwhile will have guest hosts for CityLine and will begin auditioning women to take over her spot. I feel sorry for whoever takes it over because Mar…

Former TTC CEO Andy Byford wrote me on February 27, 2017 that the location of the buttons was on the recommendation of the TTC's Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT). This committee is made up of people with disabilities and those who work with them.

He wrote:

"Dear Ms JeejeebhoyThe design of the new streetcar went through extensive consultation, including detailed review with our Advisory Committee for Accessible Transit (ACAT). These reviews led to the finalized design that is in service today. While I appreciate that we cannot please everyone, experience to date and the fact that we involved ACAT in the design tells me that we achieved the right balance. We will keep this under review but there are no plans for a…